Violence marred peaceful protests in Baltimore and riots damaged dozens of businesses. All of it created an image no city wants in the ongoing quest to bring new business to town. How lasting is the stain on Baltimore's image?

Gov. Larry Hogan said what happened in Baltimore last month remains part of the conversation with the nation's retailers, but he doesn't see it as lasting damage in terms of perception.

"It was certainly brought up a few times and we cannot ignore it. People are aware of what happened," Hogan said.

Hogan spent part of last week in Las Vegas trying to lure retailers to Maryland during a big shopping center convention that draws politicians and developers every year. After a Memorial Day ceremony in southeast Baltimore, the governor told 11 News he was encouraged that the events of last month do not seem to have a lasting negative impact.

"We had 20 to 30 meetings per day with companies trying to convince them to come to Maryland, and while it was brought up, they were mostly complimentary of how we handled it. It did not seem to be stopping them from coming into Maryland or Baltimore," Hogan said. "It was a slight concern and a topic of conversation, but I think we will be able to get past it. We just have to work harder that is all."

Hogan may have found himself being Baltimore's most visible messenger during the Las Vegas trip. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake did not attend due to the ongoing effect of last month's unrest.

"We just talked to a lot of companies that were considering coming into Maryland and they were excited about what Maryland has to offer, and I think we reassured them what they saw on television is not the real Baltimore," Hogan said.